When public health crises collide: 5 years of pediatric firearm injury prevention opportunities

Authors

Leah C. Tatebe, Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Jennifer T. Cone, Department of Surgery, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Mark B. Slidell, Advocate Aurora HealthFollow
Grace Chang, Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Meghan Jonikas, Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Amy Stewart, Advocate Aurora HealthFollow
James Doherty, Advocate Aurora HealthFollow
Ponni Arunkumar, Department of Pathology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Victoria Schlanser, Department of Trauma, Cook County Health, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Andrew J. Dennis, Department of Trauma, Cook County Health, Chicago, Illinois, USA.Follow

Recommended Citation

Tatebe LC, Cone JT, Slidell MB, et al. When public health crises collide: 5 years of pediatric firearm injury prevention opportunities. Trauma Surg Acute Care Open. 2023;8(1):e001026. Published 2023 Mar 28. doi:10.1136/tsaco-2022-001026

Affiliations

Advocate Christ Medical Center, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital

Abstract

Objectives: Prior publications on pediatric firearm-related injuries have emphasized significant social disparities. The pandemic has heightened a variety of these societal stresses. We sought to evaluate how we must now adapt our injury prevention strategies.

Patients and methods: Firearm-related injuries in children 15 years old and under at five urban level 1 trauma centers between January 2016 and December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Age, gender, race/ethnicity, Injury Severity Score, situation, timing of injury around school/curfew, and mortality were evaluated. Medical examiner data identified additional deaths.

Results: There were 615 injuries identified including 67 from the medical examiner. Overall, 80.2% were male with median age of 14 years (range 0-15; IQR 12-15). Black children comprised 77.2% of injured children while only representing 36% of local schools. Community violence (intentional interpersonal or bystander) injuries were 67.2% of the cohort; 7.8% were negligent discharges; and 2.6% suicide. Median age for intentional interpersonal injuries was 14 years (IQR 14-15) compared with 12 years (IQR 6-14, p

Conclusions: Pediatric firearm-related injuries have increased during the past 5 years. Prevention strategies have not been effective during this time interval. Prevention opportunities were identified specifically in the preteenage years to address interpersonal de-escalation training, safe handling/storage, and suicide mitigation. Efforts directed at those most vulnerable need to be reconsidered and examined for their utility and effectiveness.

Type

Article

PubMed ID

37303982